THE PRINCIPLE
The first attempts at hair transplants were in the 1950s.
The principle works like this: Hair from an area that is insensitive to male hormones is implanted in an area where the hair is sensitive to androgens. The bulbs – or hair roots – are insensitive to hormones and the new hair is now in place for life.
In 1985, when the first micro-graft transplants were performed, the procedure was expensive. It was also painful and took a long time.
Today, the technique is pain-free and we are highly skilled at the procedure, which can be done quickly. Prices have become affordable for almost all types of micro-graft transplants.
However, watch out for “cheap hair transplants” overseas, where medical skills and techniques may not have kept pace with constantly changing standards.
THE TECHNIQUE
The technique has come on leaps and bounds in the last three years.
Instruments can be now used to produce more micro-grafts whilst reducing handling and the risks of infection that might arise when working in teams of five or six technicians.
Hair is harvested painlessly from a very specific area of the scalp in the form of a strip using an instrument similar to that used for skin grafts.
This strip of scalp contains non-hormone-dependent bulbs that are genetically programmed for life. A precision microsurgical instrument allows a single specialist technician to prepare a large number of micro-grafts in just a few minutes.
Depending on the size of the graft, 3,000 to 10,000 bulbs are prepared on at least a thousand grafts measuring 1 to 1.2 mm2.
These micrografts remain fresh and are quickly reimplanted.
The surgeon will draw on their expertise to distribute these micro-grafts one-by-one, using a technique that guarantees good vascularisation and an excellent aesthetic result.
These roots will then produce particularly thick hair covering bald patches for life.